Resources/Recursos

The Alternate Can Do Descriptors (Alt Can Dos) are the first-ever Can Do Descriptors for multilingual learners with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The Alt Can Dos exemplify what students can do with communication and language at various stages of English language development.

The Alt Can Dos are arranged into the same grade-level clusters (K–2, 3–5, 6–8 and 9–12) as WIDA Alternate ACCESS. Within each grade-level cluster, the Alt Can Dos are organized by interpretive (listening and reading) and expressive (speaking and writing) communication modes for each WIDA ELD Standard and the five levels of English language development.

Released October 2024

In this recorded webinar, Mark Chapman, senior assessment innovation manager at WIDA, discusses the value of interim English language proficiency data and how WIDA's interim assessment, WIDA MODEL, can be used to support instruction for multilingual learners.

Released October 2024

This WIDA Screener for Kindergarten eSummit session recording provides an in depth look at the test.

Released October 2024

This website serves as a digital database of the Marco de los estándares del desarrollo auténtico del lenguaje español de WIDA (Marco DALE). It categorizes Language Expectations in two ways: by the Marco DALE standard statement and grade-level clusters, and by the Key Language Use and communication mode. Proficiency Level Descriptors (PLDs) can be explored by grade level (K-1 and 2-12) and communication mode.

Released September 2024

PreK-3 educators can use this tool when planning to connect with families about their communities, family assets and interests.

Released July 2024

PreK-3 educators can use this tool to reflect on their mindsets and how those mindsets can positively impact transition practices with multilingual children and their families.

Released June 2024

As teachers, staff and administrators in school buildings, district offices and educational agencies across the country, we play a critical role in responding to the individual needs of students in our teaching and learning settings. Trauma can be experienced by any student, but for those who are also learning English as an additional language or who are adjusting to a new culture, these experiences add another dimension of care to be addressed by educators. Through this focus bulletin, readers will be introduced to a research based guide for working with multilingual learners who may benefit from trauma informed practices, including discussions on special populations, the sharing of empowering and engaging strategies, a raising of awareness about prompting adverse behaviors, and building rapport across whole school, student and family networks.

Released May 2024

This webinar examines ways in which large-scale assessment data can be used to extract important, practical and useful insights on average patterns and high-level trends in English learners’ education and academic outcomes.

Released May 2024

This document articulates the WIDA Can Do Philosophy, which expresses the foundational belief that every learner brings valuable contributions to everything they do.

Released May 2024

Este resumen informativo de WIDA presenta la Investigación-acción — un concepto que resalta el trabajo mutuo entre investigadores y educadores para abordar los desafíos en el salón de clases — lo que alienta a los maestros a utilizar sus voces para hacer contribuciones significativas al campo, ya sea a través de esfuerzos colaborativos o independientes.

Released May 2024

This report examines English learners’ testing, proficiency, and growth during the six most recent academic years (2018-2023) to shed light on the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on English learners’ educational outcomes. It provides descriptive evidence on disparities in outcomes within WIDA's English learner population, with substantial average differences in outcomes between English learners identified as Hispanic compared to non-Hispanic ELs. Findings show that these disparities are persistent and have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published April 2024
Authors: Glenn Poole, Narek Sahakyan

Released April 2024

This webinar offers guidance on using the implementation guide for the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework, 2020 Edition.

Released January 2024

WIDA conducted a research study that linked WIDA MODEL Online scale scores to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). This video discusses the research study, the findings, and the Understanding WIDA MODEL Online Scale Scores in Terms of CEFR Levels tool.

Released January 2024

Many literacy programs were not designed to effectively use multilingual students’ knowledge, skills, and strengths. This Snapshot is the first in a five-part series that provides insights from relevant research and suggests ways to engage the significant strengths that multilingual learners bring to their literacy development. 

Released January 2024

Many literacy programs were not designed to effectively use multilingual students’ knowledge, skills, and strengths. This Snapshot is the second in a five-part series that provides insights from relevant research and suggests ways to engage the significant strengths that multilingual learners bring to their literacy development. 

Released January 2024

Many literacy programs were not designed to effectively use multilingual students’ knowledge, skills, and strengths. This Snapshot is the fourth in a five-part series that provides insights from relevant research and suggests ways to engage the significant strengths that multilingual learners bring to their literacy development. 

Released January 2024

Many literacy programs were not designed to effectively use multilingual students’ knowledge, skills, and strengths. This Snapshot is the third in a five-part series that provides insights from relevant research and suggests ways to engage the significant strengths that multilingual learners bring to their literacy development. 

Released January 2024

Many literacy programs were not designed to effectively use multilingual students’ knowledge, skills, and strengths. This Snapshot is the fifth in a five-part series that provides insights from relevant research and suggests ways to engage the significant strengths that multilingual learners bring to their literacy development. 

Released January 2024

WIDA research findings show that WIDA MODEL Online scale scores can be interpreted in terms of Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) levels. Use the tables in this document to look up students' MODEL scale scores and see the corresponding CEFR levels for each domain.

Released December 2023

This webinar dives into the components of the Marco de los estándares del desarrollo auténtico del lenguaje español de WIDA (Marco DALE) and explores how they can support educator's planning processes.

Released November 2023